Effects of GlideScope, Pentax Airway Scope, and Macintosh Blade on the incidence of postoperative sore throat: a cohort study of 9,881 patients

BMC Anesthesiol. 2024 Nov 12;24(1):409. doi: 10.1186/s12871-024-02798-x.

Abstract

Background: Postoperative sore throat (POST) is a common complaint after general anesthesia. POST is defined by the presence of a self-reported foreign body sensation or a painful sensation in the throat after general anesthesia. This condition may affect recovery and patient satisfaction and is associated with many factors, including intubation tools. Previous studies have reported conflicting results on POST. This retrospective cohort study, with sample size of 9,881 patients, was conducted to confirm the hypothesis that the use of video laryngoscopy (VL) is associated with a lower incidence of POST compared with direct laryngoscopy (DL).

Methods: Data were extracted from a prospectively maintained quality improvement database. A total of 9,881 patients were included in the study. Statistical analysis was conducted for comparisons of demographic characteristics and to determine the effect of intubation tools on the incidence of POST.

Results: The patients had similar baseline demographic characteristics. Compared with DL, VL was associated with a lower incidence of POST (12.98% vs. 17.49%, P < 0.001). In addition, the use of Pentax Airway Scope (AWS) was associated with a lower incidence of POST compared with the use of GlideScope (GVL, 8.14% vs. 16.25%, P < 0.001). To better adjust for possible confounding factors, mixed-effects generalized linear model analysis revealed that older age (odds ratio [OR]: 0.995, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.992-0.999, P = 0.006), AWS compared to DL (OR: 0.416, 95% CI: 0.350-0.494, P < 0.001), and male sex (OR: 0.836, 95% CI: 0.747-0.935, P = 0.002) are associated with reduced incidence of POST.

Conclusion: Compared with DL, VL is associated with a lower incidence of POST. In addition, the use of AWS is associated with a lower incidence of POST compared with the use of GVL.

Trial registration: Retrospectively registered, NCT06515808, date of registration: 23/07/2024.

Keywords: Direct laryngoscopy; General anesthesia; Intubation; Postoperative sore throat; Video laryngoscopy.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Anesthesia, General / methods
  • Equipment Design
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Intubation, Intratracheal* / adverse effects
  • Intubation, Intratracheal* / instrumentation
  • Intubation, Intratracheal* / methods
  • Laryngoscopes*
  • Laryngoscopy* / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharyngitis* / epidemiology
  • Pharyngitis* / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications* / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications* / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications* / prevention & control
  • Retrospective Studies

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT06515808